Safety razor



June 14, 1949. J, w, CLARK 2,472,807

SAFETY RAZOR Filed March 16, 1944 v 1 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inueni'or:

J hnW Clark,

June 14, 1949. w, CLARK 2,472,807

SAFETY RAZOR 4 I Filed March 16, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .Inv e nZ'or.

John W. Clark,

,i'i'orneya Patented June 14, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETYRAZOR John W. Clark, Washington, D. 0., assignor of one-third to EthelHudson Clark, Washington, D

Application March 16, 1944, Serial No. 526,732

9 Claims. 1

This invention has to do with safety razors of that type in which a thinflexible blade is used, which blade is associated with and manipulatedby blade-engaging parts which will support and flex the blade; givesufiicient external support to its cutting edge to maintain it in rigidcondition for shaving action, and at the same time so guard the cuttinedge of the blade as to prevent injury to the skin of the user.

One of its objects is to provide blade-engaging and holding parts which,when the blade is associated with them, will give an exact and precisepositioning of the blade and ensure, in its final position, an accuraterelation of the blade edge to the associated parts, the constructionbeing such that the blade is prevented from lateral or longitudinalshifting as it takes its final position between the guard and cap of therazor.

A further object is to provide a construction in which the blade isflexed only at the edge portions of its area, the central areacontaining the slot or opening for engaging the handle post, stud, orrib of the guard and cap being held always in fiat, unflexed conditionand not subjected to bending strains. This is important, particularlywith the thin blades now in use, as it makes the use of such bladespossible without the danger of cracking the blade adjacent its centralslot or opening, a difiiculty which is encountered where the entireblade area is flexed and which frequently develops with thin blades.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simplified bladeconstruction, while preserving its usability with razors now on themarket, so that blade stamping may be readily and expeditiouslyaccomplished without the need of complicated die formations to produceblade openings of particular and intricate design such as are now foundin some blades.

In the new construction herein disclosed, a symmetrical design lendingitself to rapid and low-cost production is provided, and one in which ahigh degree of blade edge protection and precise blade positioning issecured, so that blade life is prolonged and danger of nicks or cuts byreason of inaccurate blade positioning and imperfect blade edgeprotection is guarded against.

A still further purpose is to secure a construction in which rapid andcomplete drainage of shavings (meaning lather and beard particles) isaccomplished so that the shaving areas of blade edges and theirassociated parts are cleared of shavings; clogging by reason ofaccumulations of lather and heard particles is avoided, and a sanitarycondition of the razor maintained. The importance of this will beapparent. When a blade edge, guard teeth, and cap become clogged, cleancutting action of the blade is interfered with. This is particularlytrue if the soap used has a tendency to become ropy or stringy, as istrue of some shaving mixtures now in use. This purpose is accomplishedby so fashioning and relating the guard and other parts that freedrainage beneath the cutting edge of the blade and away from the teethand guard always takes place. This free and complete drainage, coupledwith the fact that the parts of the razor are so designed andconstructed that the major portion of the blade will be held betweenguard and cap practically sealed against the ingress of water orshavings, removes the necessity, which now exists with some razors, ofreleasing the blade for cleaning after shaving. Once clamped in placethe blade can be safely left in position and need be removed only forthe purpose of reversal or renewal.

In the detailed description which follows the structure and functions ofthe component parts of the razor for accomplishing the above-namedpurposes will be set forth, reference being made to the drawings whichaccompany and form a part of this disclosure.

In said drawings:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of the razor embodying my invention, theguard, cap, and blade being shown in separated position,

Figure 2 is a sectional view showing the guard, cap and blade in bladeclamping position,

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing a portion of the guard,the cap, and the blade, in clamped position,

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the guard,

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the guard,

Figure 6 is a detail view of the guard teeth on an enlarged scale,

Figure 7 is a plan view of the inside face ofthe' Figure 8 is a cap, V

Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cap showing the bladeengaging rib, and

Figure 10 is a plan view of the blade.

transversesectional view of the Numbers are used to designate theseveral in the drawings, and the same numbers identifyg the same partsin the several views.

Referring to the drawings, l0 indicates the razor guard having anydesired number of teeth l2, although with this construction a lessnumber of teeth than is usual is preferable. The notches I3 between theteeth are of the same general form, though somewhat wider than usual,and fashioned to materially assist in drainage of shavings. The guard Ihas its central area l4 at each side of its median line fiat defining acomparatively broad fiat central zone comprising a liquid seal feature,as shown, so as to present a level surface upon which the central areaor zone of the blade bears. Centrally disposed of the guard will be adepression or groove l5 which extends longitudinally thereof, and, asshown, has straight side walls terminating in a coned end portion toreceive a complementary rib or equivalent projection on the cap,presently to be described.

The cap it is provided with a blade-receiving projection or rib I? whichhas straight side walls and a coned tip in transverse cross section, andits base is accurately dimensioned to fit closely a complementary slotor opening in the blade. So constructed, the blade, when it is broughtto its final position of engagement with the straight walls at the baseof the rib I! will be securely held against lateral play and its cuttingedges precisely related to the guard I0 and the teeth l2 thereon. Thisis important for the reason that lateral blade shift or play distortsthe relation of the parts and presents an asymmetrically positionedcutting edge in the assembled razor. Not only must lateral blade shiftbe prevented but it is necessary also that endwise play of the blade beprevented. This is accomplished by slightly coning the ends ill of therib I! at the top, which coned portions terminate in straight wallportions, as shown in Figure 9, so that the ends of the blade slot willengage the rib ends 18 and longitudinal blade shift will be prevented.Preferably, the ends [8 of rib I! will be such that the ends of theblade-slot will be brought into contact with the base of the ends l8slightly in advance of the final engagement of the edges of the bladeslot with the straight wall portions of the rib ii. The side edges ofthe blade-slot will engage the straight wall portions of the rib l1 andbe in close contact therewith before any flexing of the blade takesplace, and this engagement of the blade-slot with the rib will preventbuckling or bulging of the blade centrally of its length. In thisconnection, it is pointed out that the coned end portions l8 of the ribI1 and the slotted end portions of the blade represent criticalconstruction, since these end portions engage so closely and accuratelyas to approach a longitudinall tensiom'ng of the blade. The make-up ofthe rib H is such that its sectional areas, both as to length and width,increase in size from its top toward its base, the coned form permittingready assembly of the apertured blade with the razor members, andensuring the precise positioning of the blade when it engages themaximum dimensions at the base of the rib. In this disclosure the cap isprovided also with the usual threaded handle post I9 to receive thehandle, although it will be understood that other types of handlecouplings may be used. The cap 16 will have a fiat surface or zone I6complementary to the flat area or zone M of the guard and slightly widerthan the flat guard area so that the flexing or pivot points at whichthe edge portions of the blade bends are offset to a small degree, so asto ensure a complete and final flexing of the blade edge areas as theguard and cap are brought to final clamping position the rib I1 is thesole means for engaging and positioning the plate so that there are noopposing blade engaging instrumentalities tending to distort the blade.

At each side of the flat central area M of the guard ill are curvedareas 20 over which the blade extends and flexing of the blade willoccur only at the outer blade areas, thus avoiding bending strainsthroughout the entire blade area and particularly in and about theslotted center. This edge flexing of the blade will take place from whatmay be termed pivot points 2| slightly removed from the blade edge, andtakes place at a line through an uninterrupted blade area so far removedfrom the interrupted or slotted and flatly held area at the center ofthe blade that danger of blade cracking is practically eliminated.

With this construction the blade, when the guard and cap are clampedtogether, will be firmly held, in practically watertight or sealedcondition, with the central area of the blade fiat and undistorted, andthe outer edges only of the blade subjected to flexing strains. This, aspointed out, is of very considerable advantage, particularly inconnection with thin blades, for with this construction, bending strainsand stresses are set up at the outer edge areas of the blade.

The blade 22 will be of the same general form as the usual thin blade,but will be provided with a straight slot 23 to engage the rib l1,heretofore described, or equivalent blade-engaging means at the sidesand ends of the slot, and the necessity for cutting special slotformations, such as are now found in some blades, is done away with, theslot 23 being so dimensioned that it will take the blade-engaging meansof present day razors, as well as being peculiarly adapted for thebladeengaging means herein disclosed.

It will be seen that, with this construction in which the central areaof the blade containing the slot is clamped between the two flatsurfaces on the guard and the cap, there is no distortion of the slot inthe blade due to bending, as is the case where the entire blade isflexed. This permits the very accurate positioning of the blade and aprecise engagement between the blade slot and the rib or equivalentprojections which engage that slot. By such construction the initialaligning and positioning of the blade on the rib l? in combination withits coned critical ends l8 guides the blade 22 to its final positioning,and it is held, as pointed out, against either lateral or longitudinalshift. This positioning of the blade by means of the rib l1 avoidsdistortion of the blade such as may develop where blade positioning issecured by marginal or outside positioning means such as end or cornerlugs, in connection with which the slightest inaccuracy causes bucklingof the blade with resultant distortion of the cutting edge. Further, therib H in close engagement with the aperture 23 in the blade, positionsthe blade with precision and ensures proper relation of its cuttingedges to the razor members.

In order to obtain complete and easy clearance of shavings from therazor, there is provided in the upper face of the guard the grooves 24which are formed partly in the teeth l2 and partly in the body of theguard ID, as shown.

The edge of the blade 22 will project over the groove 24 in closeprotective relation to teeth [2 ,of the guard in, as shown, but theshavings can escape readily from beneath the edge of the blade into thegroove 24. The rear ceiling walls of the notches is will be slopedrearwardly and downwardly from the point of blade contact.

The side walls of the notches I3 are fiared outwardly from the point ofblade contact so as to provide laterally flared channels 25, so as toform free, unobstructed drainage channels rearwardly from the notches Itto the surface-of the guard l0. Shavings collected at the edge of theblade will pass beneath the blade to the groove 24, and thence, throughthe notches It with their inclined rear walls, will flow to the inclinedflaring channels 25 in thinned out streams and be readily and completelydelivered, so that no clogging of the teeth or the blade edge can occur.This construction is of particular advantage in connection with shavingmixes or compositions which have any tendency to ropiness which mightcause objectionable collection and jamming of shavings beneath the bladeedge. Further, with the groove 2t and the channels 25 shown anddescribed, the matter of washing the shavings from the razor very muchexpedited, for the construction is such that under flow of Water stream,the shavings will be completely washed away and the necessity foropening the razor or using other means for shavings removal is done awaywith. To further assist in drainage and clearance of shavings, the teethI2 are rounded or crowned on their upper surfaces as at 25 so that nofiat or abrupt surfaces or edges on which shavings might collect andclog are present, and complete and ready washing off of shavings fromthe assembled parts under a flowing stream of water without thenecessity of opening or loosening such parts, is ensured.

This disclosure will suggest to others mechanical variations from thespecific structure here shown for the purpose of illustration, and it isto be understood that such changes may be made without departing fromthe range of the invention, which is limited only as set forth in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A safety razor comprising a member having a longitudinally andcentrally disposed flat blade-engaging area; a second member having acomplementary fiat blade-engaging area to clamp the central portion of ablade against the first-named area in flat undistorted position; alongitudinally disposed centrally placed rib on one of said members anda complementary recess on the other of said members, said rib havingstraight side wall portions and straight end wall portions, said endwall portions being only slightly coned to engage the ends of the slotin the blade slightly in advance of the engagement of the side wallportions with the slotted blade, and curved blade-engaging edges on saidmembers adjacent the flat areas to engage and flex the outer edgeportion of a blade.

2. A safety razor having a handle, cap and guard members and a flexibledouble edge blade, said cap having means adapted to engage the handlewhereby the cap, the blade and the guard may be clamped together, saidblade having an aligning portion defining a slot located in thelongitudinal central zone of said blade, said cap member having acontinuous aligning projection extending lengthwise of and located onthe central longitudinal zone of said cap member, said projection beingelongated and having critical end portions which are adapted toaccurately engage the ends of the aligning slot of the blade, said guardmember having a continuous elongated recess located in its central zoneto receive a portion of said aligning projection extending from said capmember, the cap and guard members having plain flat portions extendingfrom end to end and extending transversely'of said members throughoutmajor portions of their opposed surfaces, said positioning and aligningmeans being of less length than the cap, blade and guard members,thereby defining a sealing area entirely surrounding said positioningand aligning means to prevent the free entrance of water or other fluidsto the aligning means or to the clamping portions of the blade.

3. A safety razor guard, said guard being oblong and rectangular andhaving a fiat plain upper portion merging into curved portions on itslongitudinal edges, a toothed portion extending in the same generaldirection as said curved portion, a grooved portion extendingtransversely of the teeth of said toothed portion and bordering on saidcurved portion, and flow passages extending from between the teeth ofthe toothed portion and from said curved portion backwardly beneath saidcurved and flat portions.

4. A safety razor guard, said guard being oblong and rectangular andhaving a flat plain upper portion merging into curved portions on itslongitudinal edges, a toothed portion extending in the same generaldirection as said curved portion, a grooved portion extendingtransversely of the teeth of said toothed portion and bordering on saidcurved portion, flow passages having rearwardly and downwardly inclinedwalls extending from between the teeth of the toothed portion and fromthe curved portion backwardly beneath said curved and fiat portions.

5. A safety razor guard, said guard being oblong and rectangular andhaving a flat plain upper portion merging into curved portions on itslongitudinal edges, a toothed portion extending in the same generaldirection as said curved portion, a grooved portion extendingtransversely of the teeth of said toothed portion and bordering on saidcurved portion, laterally flared flow passages having rearwardly anddownwardly inclined walls extending from between the teeth of thetoothed portion and from the curved portion backwardly beneath saidcurved and flat portions.

6. A safety razor comprising a member having a longitudinal andcentrally disposed fiat blade-engaging area; a second member havingcomplementary flat blade-engaging areas to clamp a blade against theflat area of the firstnamed member in flat undistored position; anextended longitudinally disposed continuous rib centrally placed in theflat area of one of said members to engage a slotted blade and acontinuous longitudinally disposed complementary recess on the other ofsaid members, said rib forming the sole connection between blade andrazor members to hold the blade against longitudinal and endwisemovement with its edges in precise relation to the edges of said bladeholding members, the fiat areas of said member in cooperation with theblade defining a liquid seal to exclude water from between the membersand the blade, and curved blade-engaging edges on said members adjacentthe flat water excluding areas to engage and flex the outer edgeportions of a blade.

7. A safety razor comprising a member having a longitudinally andcentrally disposed flat blade engaging area; a second member having acomplementary flat blade engaging area to clamp a blade against the fiatarea of the first-named member in flat undistorted position; an extendedlongitudinally disposed continuous rib having straight side and endwalls centrally placed in the flat area of one of said members toclosely engage a slotted blade and a continuous longitudinally disposedcomplementary recess on the other of said members and forming the soleconnection between the blade and the razor members to hold the bladeagainst longitudinal and endwise movement with its edges in preciserelation to the edges of said blade holding members, the fiat areas ofsaid members in cooperation with a blade defining a liquid seal toexclude water from between the members and the blade, and curvedblade-engaging edges on said members adjacent the flat water excludingareas to engage and flex the outer edge portions only of a blade.

8. A guard member for safety razors having a curved portion over which ablade may be flexed, alternating teeth and notches in the edge of saidcurved portion, downwardly sloping ceiling walls and laterally flaredside walls extending rearwardly from the notches and defining rearwardlyexpanding flow passages on the underside of said guard, the upper sideof said guard having a groove in communication with the notches toreceive shavings from a blade and deliver them to the notches and flowpassages.

9. A guard member for safety razors having a curved portion over which ablade may be flexed, alternating teeth and notches in the edge of saidcurved portion, downwardly sloping ceiling walls and laterally flaredside walls extending rearwardly from the notches and defining rearwardlyexpanding flow passages on the underside of said guard, the upper sideof said guard having a groove spanning the notches and disposed beneaththe edge of a blade to receive shavings from a blade and deliver them tothe notches and flow passages.

JOHN W. CLARK.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 903,347 Watson Nov. 10, 1908933,020 Clark Aug. 31, 1909 1,124,668 Shure Jan. 12, 1915 1,324,010Hyman et a1. Dec. 2, 1919 1,328,024 Wharton Jan. 13, 1920 1,526,809Sobleskie Feb. 1'7, 1925 2,213,062 Brandenthaler Aug. 27, 1940

